ISEPP: Strategic Partner

ISEPP: Strategic Partner

We are grateful to The International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychology (ISEPP) for partnering with us in 2016 and early 2017 as a Fiscal Sponsor while we awaited our IRS documents. ISEPP's Board agreed to support us in this way as a “special project” because of our similar and necessary missions. ISEPP’s Mission Statement (below) emphasizes the closeness of our missions:

"The International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry, Inc. (ISEPP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization of mental health professionals, physicians, educators, ex-patients and survivors of the mental health system, and their families. We are not affiliated with any political or religious group.

Our mission is to use the standards of scientific inquiry to address the ethics of psychology and psychiatry. We strive to educate our members and the public about the nature of “mental illness”, the de-humanizing and coercive aspects of many forms of mental health treatment, and the alternative humane ways of helping people who struggle with very difficult life issues. We believe this is essential since one of the most cherished principles in the mental health field is “informed consent”. That means you should be fully and honestly informed about the problems you are experiencing, and the full risks and benefits of any treatment, before making truly voluntary decisions about your care. Our goal is to fully inform you.

At the heart of our critique is the fact that “mental illnesses” are not literal illnesses like diabetes and cancer. Despite popular media portrayal, decades of scientific research have failed to demonstrate any biological pathology that causes “mental illness”. For this reason, they should not be considered medical problems and traditional medical treatment is not a solution. In particular, the only thing psychiatric drugs do is suppress feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. Not only does this prevent people from understanding their problems and making important life changes, these drugs carry with them a whole host of dangerous effects that typically are not explained to the user when prescribing them.

The experience of “mental illness” is a natural human reaction to extraordinary and painful life circumstances. To help those who are experiencing these problems, we advocate various forms of psychotherapy, support groups, self-help programs, and help with employment, education, housing, exercise, nutrition, and other issues of living. We also urge the ruling out of literal diseases that can mimic psychological problems.

Sometimes the biggest form of help comes from just knowing you are not abnormal and there are others willing to listen to you, understand what you are going through, and appreciate you as a fellow human being. The only way to restore one’s humanity is through humanity.”